There has to be more behind Loeffler's current situation than is being exposed. There is no reason he shouldn't be getting calls/offers somewhere. It makes me wonder if he has a personal issue going on.

His claim to fame is working with Tom Brady at Michigan but you could argue that Tom under achieved at Michigan. He did a good job with Chad Henne but also was QB coach for the lions during a bad year in which Drew Stanton did not get better, he worked with Tebow during his worst of his last 3 years, and John Brantley who is a pro style QB looked really bad this year. I am not saying he is a bad coach but is he worthy of being an offensive coordinator at a power house program?

I'm not sure how he underachieved here. He was a quasi-coach when Griese was here, a grad assistant for Brady's two years as a starter, and our QB coach for Navarre's last two seasons (when he really turned the corner from a project to a capable QB) and Henne's. I think that significantly outweighs his year working with Lions (especially given that Drew Stanton's not exactly the sharpest tool in the shed).

Even granting that he's done a great job as a QB coach (meaning, ignoring his post Michigan tenure), how exactly does that qualify him to be the OC? Maybe he hasn't established an offensive philosophy? Maybe he's only really great at coaching QB skills like footwork, mechanics and making progressions?

It shouldn't be a shock that a team with legitimate national championship potential next year might want a guy that has shown some previous success at the coordinator level, not that I'm sure Kragthorpe fits that bill.

Being a QB coach usually also means being an unofficial passing-game coordinator. If the OC decides upon a passing play, the QB coach often chooses which one it is. So the transition from QB coach to OC is pretty natural. I'm sure he'll get a shot somewhere.

Tom didn't underachieve at UM. He shattered previous single-season passing records while sharing time w/ another NFL prospect. Those records have since been eclipsed by other QBs (Navarre and Henne) but they were also coached by Loeffler.

Secondly- Basically, every starting collegiate quarterback he has recruited and coached has started in the NFL. Griese, Brady, Navarre, Henne, Tebow. Nuff said.

Brady was doing pretty well by 1999, but he and the entire offense struggled at points the previous year. For instance, there was a stretch where the team eaked out a 12-9 win over 3-8 Iowa, a 12-6 win over 3-8 Northwestern, a 21-10 win over 4-7 Indiana and a 15-10 win over 5-6 Minnesota. If it hadn't been for a 12th regular season game against 0-12 Hawaii and two pick sixes in the bowl game against Arkansas, Michigan might not have broken 300 points.

By 1999, though, Brady and the offense were moving the ball pretty well.

First I do think he is a good coach just not worth being the offensive coordinator of a top five football team. John Navarre had a good career at Michigan but also had 3 WR who now start in the NFL and Doak Walker award winner at RB. Henne in my opinion was his best coaching job but he did not fix Tebow mechanics and John Bentley (a 5 star recruit with 3 years to learn the offense) looked bad and how can you give him credit for Mallett who he coached for one season. I would love him as a QB coach or an offensive coordinator for a MAC/Big East school but he should not be an offensive coordinator for a top five team. Your argument for QBs in the NFL is like saying Greg Robinson is a great defensive coordinator because he coached 3 first round picks in his one year at Texas (Aaron Ross, Michael Huff, and Derrick Johnson)

Les is getting senile. Most of you saw his recent "dye" job a few posts down. Loeffler was the obvious choice. A bit selfish of me to wish that he joins us eventually but offensive side of the ball is fully staffed up and we need D-coaches. He will do great wherever he ends up and will carry our Programs name well.

Go Blue

"I want to express my thanks to you, as a graduate of the Michigan of the East, Harvard University." - John F. Kennedy, 1960 Michigan Union

That's all I remember about Tulsa during his time. He may have sucked at Louisville, but he may be a good offensive mind. All I know about any of his QB pupils is that he coached Bledsoe in Buffalo and he had a pretty good year.

...Kragthorpe was one of the coaches on my "list," along with Urban Meyer and Chris Peterson. RR would have been on my list, but I considered him a WVU lifer. I'll still never figure out how he turned from someone who did a great job at Tulsa into one who totally sucked at Louisville. I really thought he was going to be a great coach. It almost makes me wonder if a bunch of arrogant, parochial ex-players, alums, instate MSM writers, and instate HS coaches decided to make his job there difficult.

At any rate, I thought he had a lot of potential. I hope he gets a chance to rebuild his reputation at LSU and eventually gets one more shot as a BCS head coach.